Mechanism for cutting and applying glue to sheet material



y 2, 1939- Y w. c. DORSCH 2,156,804

MECHANISM FOR CUTTING AND APPLYING GLUE TO SHEET MATERIAL Filed Nov. 27,1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l L4 W I May 2, 1939. w. c. DORSCH 2,156,804

MECHANISM FOR CUTTING AND APPLYING GLUE TO SHEET MATERIAL Filed Nov. 27,1956 2 Sheets-Shem; 2

g iii/9% Patented May 2, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT F [.C E

MECHANISM FOR CUTTING AND APPLYING GLUE TO SHEET 'MATERIAL awareApplication November 27, 1936, Serial No. 112,965

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a mechanism for applying a spot of adhesivematerial such as glue to a paper wrapper or the like and at the sametime making suitable cuts around the spot of glue so as to form aneasily detachable gummed area on the wrapper. The purpose of this areais to facilitate the removal of the wrapper from a package about whichit has been secured by means of the glue.

It is an object of the invention to provide a mechanism of this kindwhich will be uniform and positive inits action and will be easy tooperate.

Various advantageous features will be apparent to one skilled in the artfrom a disclosure of an embodiment of the invention hereinafterdescribed and illustrated on the drawings of which Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a mechanism embodying the invention, portions of theapparatus being broken away to show in section.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is. a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 1, theparts beingshown in a different position of operation, and some of themembers being broken away to show in section.

Figure 6 is a. section on the line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a section on the line 'l'l of Figure 5.

. Figure 8 is'a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a cylindrical package to which animproved wrapper has been applied but not secured.

Figure 10 is a similar perspective view after the seal of the wrapper.has been made and broken.

The mechanism illustrated onthe drawings is intended to operate on.paper wrappers or the like so as to daub on an end or corner thereof aspot of adhesive material such as. glue, and, at the same time, to makesuitable cuts around the spot of glue so that, when the wrapper is to beremoved from the package to which it has been applied, the cemented endor corner may be torn away from the small portion thereof which is stuckto another portion of the wrap per by the glue. If used where packagesare being made up and wrapped, the device may be employed to operate onan end or corner of the wrapper immediately prior to the completion ofthe Wrapping operation so that the gummed end or corner of the wrappermay be forthwith caused to adhere to another portion of the wrapper soas to seal the package before the glue dries or sets.

According to the invention, the improved mechanism may include a framehaving a base portion Zlland an upright. portion 22 supporting a bracketportion 24 which overhangs the base. Mounted on the base is a suitablework table 26 which is preferably horizontal and which is provided witha resilient member 28 of rubber or the like set into the center thereofflush with the. surface. A. rectangular element 36 may be employed tosecure the rubber mat 28 in place. In the center of the rubber mat 28 isan anvil which, as indicated in Figure 8, may be carried by a threadedstem 34 projecting through the upper portion. ofthe base 20 so as to beverticallyadjustable. The surface of the anvil is preferably dircularand flush with the adjacent surfaceof the rubber mat 2B. Immediatelyabove the. anvil 32pis a nozzle 40, this nozzle being removably attachedto an extension l? which projects downward from a receptacle or cupadapted to hold a supply of liquid such as. glue. The extension lz andthe nozzle ii! are provided with a duct 46 through which the glue mayflow from thecup i l-to, a central opening in the flat end of thenozzle. The opening in the end of the nozzle is smaller in diameter thanthe portion of the duct adjacent thereto and is normally closed by valvemeans consisting of a ball 'il'! within the duct 46- which is pressed bya spring 52 and isnormally seated in the opening. When so seated, aportion of the ball projects beyond the end face of the nozzle 40. Theopposed faces of the nozzle and anvil are preferably of the same sizeand shape and the nozzle is-mountedsoas tube-directly above the anvil,so that, when reciprocated vertically as hereinafter described, thenozzlewill engage the am vil or thework which may be resting upon theanvil.

A cutting die 54 surrounds the nozzle member Ml andis mountedthereonwith adrive fit so that it is. substantially integral therewithin the assembled machine. This cutting die is provided with a circularseries of sharp teeth 56 spaced about the axis. of the nozzle memberarranged in four quadrants which are separated by narrow gaps. The teethpenetrate the work and may be employed to-cut either groups ofperforations or continuous quadrantal lines separated by the narrowportions of the work left uncut by the gaps between the segments of thecutting edges. The cutting edges 56 are spaced laterally from thenozzle, as indicated in Figure 8, so as to be directly above a portionof the resilient element 28 of the work table, Surrounding the cuttingdie 54 is a stripper element 60 which is loosely slidable on theextension 42 below the cup 44 and is pressed downward as by a suitablespring 62, its downward movement relative to the extension being limitedby an annular shoulder 66 which engages the upper end of the cutting die54 when the lower end of the stripper element 60 projects somewhat belowthe plane of the cutting edges 56. Thus, when the nozzle and cutterdescend to apply glue to a portion of the work and to make cuts inadjacent portions of the work, the work is first engaged by the lowerend of the stripper element 60 which is normally in advance of thecutter and nozzle, After the cutter and nozzle have descended furthertooperate upon the work, the stripper holds the work down during theinitial upward movement of the cutter and nozzle, thus preventing thework from adhering to the cutter or nozzle.

Mechanism for vertically reciprocating the cup 44 and the memberssecured thereto as hereinbefore described, is mounted on the framebracket 24 and may comprise a vertically reciprocable plunger Ill havinga suitable clamping means I2 by which the cup 44 is removably attachedthereto in such a manner that the nozzle 40 is alined with the plungerID. The upper end of the plunger I0 is attached as by a pair of verticallinks '14 to a horizontal link I6 which in turn is pivotally attached asat I8 to a pair of cars rising from the bracket 24. An operating lever82 is pivoted to the bracket 24 as at 84, the forward end portion 86 ofthis lever being conveniently shaped for manual operation to depressthis end of the lever. At the opposite end of the lever is mounted asuitable weight 88 sufficient to rock the lever back to the normalposition illustrated in Figure 1 when the lever has been manually rockedto depress the forward end thereof, the weight being adjustable towardor from the fulcrum 84. The lever 82, as shown, is not directlyconnected to the plunger ID for the reciprocation thereof. Instead, theplunger is actuated by a pair of springs 99 which are attached to thehorizontal link I6 at a point remote from the pivot I8, the springs 90being attached to the horizontal link 16 at a point 9I remote from thepivot I8, the springs 90 being attached as at 92 at their other ends toa pair of rocking arms 94 which rock together about an axis 96 asillustrated in Figure 2. The arms 94 are adapted to rock between twopositions in which the points 92 are respectively on one side or theother of the line between the pivot points I8 and 9|. This arrangementthus constitutes a snap-action device adapted to raise and lower theplunger III according to the position of the rock arms 94. When theserock arms are swung up as in Figure l, the springs 99 tend to raise theplunger Hi. When the arms 524 are swung down as in Figure 5, the springs92 tend to lower the plunger It. The arms 94 are rocked from oneposition to the other by a pin I90 which extends through these arms andalso through the rocking lever 82. Thus, when the rocking lever 82 rocksup or down, this results in the rocking of the arms 94 up or down, thusconditioning the snap-action device for the raising or lowering of theplunger 10 in accordance with the direction of rocking movement of thearms 82 and 94.

Downward movement of the plunger 10 is normally prevented by a latch I02which is pivoted as at I04 on a bracket element I08 projecting from theframe bracket 24. The latch I02 engages in a lateral slot I III in theplunger Ill, this latch preventing movement of the plunger while it isso engaged. The forward end portion 86 of the rocking lever 82 isprovided with a downwardly projecting member II2 which is centrally cutaway so as to provide a sloping cam surface I I4. As the member I I2descends with the end portion 86 when the lever 82 is rocked, thesloping cam edge II4 engages a portion IIIi of the latch member I02 insuch a way as to swing the latch clear of the plunger. The mechanism isso adjusted as to trip the latch I62 after the rock arms 94 have beenswung so as to condition the snap action device for lowering the plunger"I0 as illustrated in Figure 5. Thus, at the moment when the latch I02is tripped, the springs 90 are arranged to rock the link I6 downward.This results in a downward pressure on the plunger I0 through theconnecting links I2. The release of the plunger I9 permits the plungerto move through its downward working stroke under a predetermined forcefurnished by the tension of the springs 90, It is evident that thisforce is independent of the manner of operation of the rocking lever 82so that the working strokes of the plunger, and hence of the nozzle andcutting die attached thereto, are uniform. This means uniformity ofoperation on successive pieces of work, which is highly desirable. Thelatch I02 also serves as a stop to limit the downward rocking movementof the control lever, the latch being engaged by the upper end of theout-out in the member II2 when the latch has been tripped by the camedge i I4, as illustrated in Figure '7. After the operating stroke ofthe plunger has been completed, the weight 83 is permitted to rock thelever 82 in the reverse direction. This releases the latch I92 whichthen is swung back into contact with the side of the plunger I9 as by asuitable spring I29. The reverse rocking of the lever 82 elevates thepin I09 which in turn rocks the arms 94 upward, thus conditioning thesnapaction device to raise the plunger TI] and the members securedthereto. The plunger thus rises to the position shown in Figure l,whereupon the latch I02 snaps into the slot III] and holds the plungerIf! in its elevated position until the next actuation of the controllever 82.

When the nozzle is moved down to engage the work upon the anvil 32, theprojecting portion of the ball 55 reaches the work before the end faceof the nozzle. The ball is thus forced back into the cavity in which itis located while the end face of the nozzle moves on into engagementwith the work to daub a spot of glue thereon. As the nozzle subsequentlyrises, the ball 5i! moves back to its seated position, thus pushing asmall quantity of glue through the aperture in the end face of thenozzle, which glue adheres to the end face of the nozzle and is readyfor the next operation of the mechanism. Figure 9 illustrates a wrapperwhich has been operated upon by the mechanism herein shown anddescribed. The wrapper 533 has an end portion I32 which is thrustbeneath the nozzle and die. The plunger is then operated as hereinbeforedescribed, so that the nozzle daubs a spot I34 of glue or the like onthe portion I32 of the wrapper, and the cutting edges 56 at the sametime make quadrantal cuts I36 surrounding the glue spot I 34 entirelyexcept for small connecting elements I38 left uncut by the gaps in thecutting edge of the die. When it is desired to remove the wrapper fromthe package the end portion I32 is torn away. Owing to the cuts I36, acircular piece I40 of the end portion I32 remains adhering to thepackage, but the connecting elements I38 are readily broken as indicatedin Figure 10, thus permitting the removal of the wrapper from thepackage.

It is evident that various modifications and changes may be made in theparticular embodiment of the invention herein shown and described,without departing from the spirit or scope thereof as defined in thefollowing claims.

I claim:

l. A machine comprising an adhesive applicator, a sheet material cutterhaving spaced cutting edges arranged about an axis, and means foractuating said applicator and cutter to apply adhesive to an area ofsheet material and to partially out around and sever said area from theremainder of the sheet material.

2. A machine for treating sheet material to form therein an easilydetachable gummed area, comprising a glue-applying element, a cuttingdie surrounding said element, and means for reciprocating said elementand die as a unit to and from the work.

3. A machine of the class described, comprising means for weakening theboundaries of a limited area of a piece of sheet material, means fordaubing a spot of glue within said area, and means for operating saidweakening means and daubing means together as a unit to and from theWork.

4. A machine of the class described, comprising a glue-applying elementhaving a supply duct therein, a cutting die surrounding said element,means for reciprocating said element and die together to and from thework, and a normally closed valve means in said duct adapted to openwhen said element moves into engagement with the work.

5. In a device of the class described, a plunger having a working strokeand a return stroke, a spring snap-action device connected to saidplunger and controllable to move said plunger through its working strokeor through its return stroke, latch means normally preventing movementof said plunger in its working stroke, a control member manually movablein one direction to condition said snap-action device for moving saidplunger through its working stroke and to trip said latch, and means foryieldingly moving said control member in the other direction tocondition said snap-action device to move said plunger through itsreturn stroke.

6. In a device of the class described, a frame having a base and anoverhanging bracket, a work-supporting table on said base, a plungervertically reciprocable in said bracket, a tool carried by said plungerfor engagement with work on said table, a spring snap-action device formoving said plunger up and down, a manually rockable control levermounted on said bracket, said snap-action device being connected to saidlever in such a manner that rocking the lever in one directionconditions the device to raise the plunger and rocking the lever in theother direction conditions the device to lower the plunger, a latch insaid head normally engaging said plunger to prevent downward movementthereof, and means on said plunger for tripping said latch to releasethe plunger at the end of the rocking stroke of the lever for loweringthe plunger.

7. A device of the class described, comprising a frame, a work table onsaid frame, a plunger slidably supported above said table, a cutting diedetachably secured to said plunger and movable therewith toward and fromsaid table, a latch normally holding said plunger in elevated position,an operating lever on said frame manually rockable in one direction totrip said latch, spring-actuated means controlled by said lever formoving said plunger down and up, said spring-actuated means being soconnected to the lever as to press downward on the plunger when thelever is moved toward its latch-tripping position and to raise theplunger when the lever is rocked in the opposite direction, and meanstending to rock said lever in said opposite direction.

8. In a device of the class described, a work supporting table, a cupabove said table having a i nozzle projecting downward therefrom, meansfor lowering and raising said cup to move said nozzle to and fromengagement with work on said table, and a cutting die secured to saidnozzle and movable therewith to operate on the work.

9. In a device of the class described, a worksupporting table having arigid surface portion surrounded by an area of yielding surface, a cuphaving a downward projecting nozzle above said table, means forreciprocating said cup and nozzle down and up so as to move said nozzleto and from said rigid surface portion of the table, a normally closedvalve in said nozzle having a portion projecting below the end of thenozzle, said projecting portion being adapted to engage the work on saidtable to open said valve, and a cutting die secured to said nozzle abovesaid yielding surface portion of the table and reciprocable with saidnozzle to and from the work.

10. In a device of the class described, a worksupporting table, a cupabove said table having a nozzle projecting downward therefrom, a cuttersurrounding said nozzle and secured thereto, the cutting edge of saidcutter being approximately flush with the end of the nozzle, a strippermember loosely surrounding said nozzle and cutter to slide thereon, thelower edge of said stripper member normally projecting below the end ofthe nozzle, spring means pressing said stripper member yieldinglydownward, and means for lowering and raising said nozzle, cutter andstripper as a unit to and from said table.

WILLIAM C. DORSCH.

